DMCK

I'm SO glad this is finally out! Some of this stuff has been done before (very well), and a lot of it has never been done. We'll dabble in both. :) One thing is for certain, it will be a very unique program, unlike any versions out there. It will also be exciting and very challenging. There's plenty in here for everyone...jazzy throw down playing, very technical 'legit' playing...lots of great melodies and harmonies to explore. I hope everyone enjoys it!

Joe, I don't think that's an appropriate way to treat a marimba! Why doesn't she play it instead? Wow...bad joke. Sorry. :)

Sore muscles are but a payment towards excellence. :) You did great, and the rest of the guard did great as well. I just wanted to say that you can all expect a show announcement very soon! Yes, we know what it is...but we're dotting all the lower case j's and crossing all of the t's before making a complete public release. I will say this...it's exciting, familiar to some, and entertaining to all. I don't want to say it's not something you'd expect from the Bushwackers (because really...what kind of style to you expect from the Bushwackers)...but I will say that it's going to, as they say, "rock the house".

It's an honor to be on the team. With this team of staff, coupled with the extraordinary veteran talent and leadership within the brass line, we will build on last year's success and be, once more, a championship caliber horn line and drum corps.

Thanks to Mary and the alumni for another great spread of sandwiches and other food! The day certainly did rock. I can't wait to meet again on Sunday, December 17th!

What an AWESOME day! I won't go into tooooo much detail, because Dave (our director of communications) will be putting out some official releases regarding the open house and some other important and exciting things....but let me just say that in my 12 years, I don't remember an open house with this many people and this much energy. Thanks to everyone who made it possible...all the behind the scene tasks that often go unrecognized. Also, thanks to the NEW PEOPLE...and there were tons of you...who came to check things out and fit right into our drum corps. I know that you're going to have the winter, spring, and summer of your lives! Our next rehearsal is Sunday, December 17th. Directions and information will be available on our website shortly. It's NOT TOO LATE. Come on out and see what the 2007 edition of the BUSHWACKERS is all about.

It was great to meet you on Saturday, Gene. There were so many drummers there to meet our new staff, it was a little mind boggling! I'm glad that you decided to get back into drum corps...and that the BUSHWACKERS are the corps you decided to march.

I think that all of the brass players who walked in our doors today at our open house (and there were a lot of them!!!) saw and experienced everything you say here. The line was pushed and the bar was raised from last season. I'm honored to be on this brass staff, and I look forward to being a part of what you wrote above. Go Bush.

Exactly, Joe... ...and if today's open house was any indication of things to come (and, of course, it always is), our guard is in PHENOMINAL shape for 2007! Welcome back, guys!

I can't wait to hear the sounds and see the sights of drum corps once again! When last season ended, we were passionately playing our show in one of the streets near the stadium in Rochester...to a crowd of many who decided to hang around and get their faces blown off. We had just won brass and guard, and had just come in 3rd at the DCA World Championships. In 05 we made the leap (from 8th in 04 to 3rd in 05). In 06 we proved that we weren't going away and we were a championship caliber drum corps...taking home the first caption titles for the corps in over a decade. 2007? Additions of Ralph Hardimon and Al DiCroce (not just to add names for the sake of adding names...experienced designers VERY involved in our corps and the construction of our show), a revamped percussion staff chompin' at the bit to get started, the retention of nearly our entire visual, colorguard, and brass staffs (with additions)... Very exciting indeed. We are literally going to pick up where we left off, with every bit the passion and energy we had in that parking lot run through after finals. It's time to DO the BUSHWACKERS yet again...26 years (12 of them I've been a part of)...6 world championships...and a history of quality, excellence, and innovation. Sorry to go off there. I don't normally post things like this on here...but it excites me that Gene and so many other new folks are going to mingle with our many returning members THIS SATURDAY and start this season with fire, energy, and focus...oh, and FUN. We're a really goofy group of people. lol Can't wait. GO BUSH.

I know a lot of people are up to the challenge and will be at the open house. Be one of them.

I can't wait to see (hear...whatever) what the design team has come up with!

thanks for clarifying, Chris. :) The Bushwackers have some pretty strict policies in place to protect our young members. I would, however, love to talk over a frothy beverage after the open house, Gene. :) !

NOVEMBER 25TH...10AM...RUTGERS (NEWARK) UNIVERSITY CAMPUS. Lots of announcements and fun to be had at the open house, folks. Come see what the 2007 Bushwackers are all about!

Ah, stealthy. Now you see our posts, now you don't. It's fine. Joe Exley and the rest of our staff are looking forward to meeting all the fine people who are coming to our open house on November 25th. :) (http://www.bushwackers.org for more details). We might not be the topic of conversation on DCP, but rest assured that we're going to make some serious noise in DCA again this summer. Things are going GREAT in Bushwacker-land, and getting better all the time. The addition of a great percussion staff, the retention of our 2006 championship guard and brass staff (with some additions...to be released soon), and some other really exciting announcements you'll see on here this week are going to help catapult this corps to the next level. Oh...did I mention that most of the 2006 corps is returning? :) Yeah, this is something people are going to want to be a part of, and I can't wait to get started. This show (unreleased) is going to ROCK! (that's not a hint. lol) Go Bush. See you soon, John.

AWESOME!!!!!!!!! Our pit was incredible last year. Joe's writing is expertly crafted and emotional. Congratulations, Joe!

GO BUSH! Joe is the man! Come be a part of the action!

We've been getting tons of interest from people interested in being part of the 2007 Bushwackers Percussion Section! You want to get in on this party...no Jedi mind trick necessary to convince you. Fill out our webform at www.bushwackers.org/member and let's get this party started. November 25th is only a few days away!

Wow, that's great stuff! Bob Ciz is great! I've worked with him at Upper Darby and that line throws DOWN. 3 consecutive TOB Group 4 percussion champions and a whole slew of TIDA indoor championships as well as great success at the WGI level. He's a consumate professional who respects his members, and expects a lot out of them as well. I am PSYCHED that he is on our team! I have also heard nothing but spectacular things about Chris Rivera. I can't wait to meet him. ...and Ralph Hardimon...what more need be said????? :) Rob, Sean, and Tim...welcome back! Congratulations to all, and to those new to our team...WELCOME! It's going to be an amazing season. BUSHWACKERS OPEN HOUSE - NOVEMBER 25TH, 2006! Rutgers U. Center for Law and Justice, Newark NJ. Information and dirctions available at http://www.bushwackers.org

Yes...HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Less than a month before the journey begins. There is so much work going on behind the scenes to make this the best year for the Bushwackers ever...and that's saying a lot. LOTS of surprises and cool announcements coming down the pike.

More announcements coming very soon! :) Can't wait to hear about brass, percussion, and the show!

1998, one of my favorite Cadets shows ever, is a brass band piece as well. Amazing stuff. Lots of corps have ventured towards brass band literature, but for many reasons it's never become a "go to" source like concert band stuff became for a while there. Oh, and as for the topic at hand...I personally feel that programming and performance are what sells and what makes something entertaining or not. Genre might have something to do with it, but I don't think that it's the main factor in what is entertaining or not, or, for that matter, whether it is championship caliber show or not. Programming and performance. Be smart with what you pick, hire a design team with a vision to arrange it, tweak it, and inject life into it...and then get your members to believe in at and perform it like they're on a mission to make you stand up. Just my opinion.

Can't wait for more announcements! ANTICIPATION! Alex? :)!

He's judged my band twice so far this year in Cavalcade of Bands (a circuit here in PA and NJ). I'm just sayin'

Awesome! Hope to see you at the open house on November 25th...ONE MONTH FROM TODAY!!!